Feeler mechanism for looms



April 7, 1964 L. E. DUNTON FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Oct. 18,1961 INVEN TOR. LEONHRD E. Du/vro/v A TTORNEY Patented Apr. 7, 19643,127,913 FEELER MECHANISM FOR LGOMS Leonard E. Danton, Franklin, Mass,assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., a corporation of MaineFiled Oct. 18, 1951, Ser. No. 145,885 4 Claims. (Cl. 139281) Thisinvention relates to an improvement in a loom feeler mechanism and, moreparticularly, to that feeler mechanism employed for detecting thepresence or absence of filling on bobbins in looms of the fly shuttletype.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a feeler mechanismwith a more balanced and stabilized feeler action than has been usedprior to the instant inven tion.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a feeler mechanismwherein the tension under which the feeler stem member is caused tofunction can be increased or decreased to the desired tension proper fora particular weaving condition.

'It is a further object of the invention to provide a filling feelerwith very little resistance to the movable components of the mechanismthereby increasing the life expectancy of said components.

It is a further and more specific object of the invention to provide astabilized feeler mechanism in which the feeler member is centrallybalanced and the lateral forces to which this member is subjected arecounteracted through the combined stabilizing and tension action ofsprings extending obliquely from either side thereof.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingmore detailed disclosure.

In looms of the fly shuttle type wherein said shuttle supports a fillingcarrying bobbin, it is common practice to utilize a filling feelermechanism to detect the presence of filling on the active bobbin and toinitiate replenishment of this bobbin upon indication of exhaustion ofthe filling supply wound thereon.

An example of a filling feeler mechanism which utilizes the sideslipping feature of the feeler element to actuate the means for bobbinreplenishment similar to that of the instant invention is disclosed inUnited States Patent No. 2,556,136.

Filling feeler stems of the prior art having the side slipping featureare subjected to continued frictional contact with portions of thecasings within which they are housed because of the spring meansemployed to continually urge the stem member to its fullest extendedposition and away from that position for indicating bobbinreplenishment.

Continued reciprocation of the stem member within the feeler case duringthe presence of filling on the operating bobbin promotes wearing of thismember and associated parts. Additionally, the stem member after sideslipping to indicate bobbin replenishment snaps back to the guidemembers which position it in normal operating position creating anunstable condition which as a result of the force urging it to thisposition and its tendency to try to move beyond these points causes saidstem member to rock to and fro against said guide members until saidforces have dissipated.

Generally, the feeler according to this invention includes a feelercase, a slidable and pivotal stem member extending from said case and afeeler tip aflixed to the end thereof, said stem member having a firstportion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axisof the bobbin from which it is adapted to derive an indication and asecond portion extending from the forward end of said first portion andin a direction substantially perpendicular thereto, said feeler caseincluding a" pivot member and a guide member generally aligned andcentrally disposed for guiding the forward and rearward motion of saidfirst portion of said stem member, the combination of said secondportion and said pivot member being effective to limit rearward movementof said stem member and also being adapted to guide forward and rearwardmotion of said first portion of said stem member, a pair of oppositelydisposed coil spring members for stabilizing and urging said stem memberto a centralized and fully extended position from said feeler case, saidsprings having one end of each attached to adjacent points on said stemmember, the latter having a plurality of such attaching points along thelength of said first portion for selectively varying the spring tensionimparted thereto, said spring members being disposed as to extendobliquely in the direction of the feeler tip from said first portion toopposed attachment points at the sides of said feeler case.

The mechanism of the instant invention provides a filling feeler unit ofnovel design which reduces to a considerable extent the undesirablewearing of the various components heretofore described by providing acentrally balanced and stabilized feeler stern member. This stem memberas is well known to those conversant in the art is caused to reciprocatelongitudinally during the period of detecting suflicient filling on theoperating bobbin for continued weaving and to move in a lateraldirection indicating filling exhaustion at which time it also initiatesbobbin replenishment. The filling feeler case from which the stem memberprotrudes is provided with a pivot member and a guide member generallyaligned and centrally disposed for guiding said stem member duringmovement thereof.

The means for urging the stem member to its fully extended position andfor maintaining it in a balanced and generally centralized positionwithin the feeler case comprises counteracting expansion springsattached at a common point to said stem member and extend obliquely fromeither side thereof to attachment points at the sides of said feelercase. The stem member being maintained in a balanced and generallycentralized position has its outer portion, to which the feeler tip isalfixed, oifset from its shank portion to enable this member to sideslip and initiate bobbin replenishment when making contact with a bobbinon which the filling yarn has become exhausted. This means of springcontrol reduces the frictional contact that is normally had between thestem member and its guiding means as well as equalizing the lateralforces normally imparted to said stem while being urged to its fullyextended position. Additionally, the stem member being centrallybalanced in this manner eliminates the aforementioned tendency of anunstable feeler action when the stem member returns to its normalposition from a transfer indicating position. To increase or decreasethe amount of tension under which the stem member is caused to function,the counteracting expansion springs are adjustable longitudinally alongthe length of said stem member.

Further advantages of the invention will be evident from the followingdescription and drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan View of a filling feeler mechanism according to theinvention showing the feeler tip and stem member in a fully extendedposition and by means of phantom lines adjacent thereto, the positionassumed by said tip and stem member when detecting the presence ofsuificient filling on the operating bobbin for continued weaving.

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the filling feeler mechanism shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing the positionassumed by the feeler tip and stem member when caused to move in alateral direction on indication of filling exhaustion and to initiatereplenishment thereof.

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken along line FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the feeler mechanism is indicatedgenerally by numeral 16 which comprises a casing 11, casing cover 12 anda filling feeler which includes a feeler tip 13 and a stem member 14.The supporting stem indicated generally by numeral 14 protrudes fromcasing 11 through an opening 15 and has affixed to the offset free endprotruding therefrom a feeler tip 13. That portion of stem 14 whichassembles within the confines of casing 11 is centrally disposed andextends in a longitudinal direction from opening 15 to a pivot member 16where at this point the stem is formed at substantially a right .angleto the stems shank portion 17 as at 18 and serves as a counterbalancefor the offset portion of the stem which protrudes from the casingitself. Pivot member 16 along with one side of opening 15 as at 19serves as a guide means to prevent the supporting stem 14 from moving ina lateral direction other than that of initiating bobbing replenishment.

The supporting stem 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is continually urged toa centralized and fully extended position from casing 11 by means ofcounteracting expansion springs 20 and 21. These springs have one endthereof attached at a common point to the supporting stem 14 as at 22and extending obliquely in the direction of feeler tip 13 from eitherside thereof their opposite ends are attached to pins 23 and 24 providedat the sides of casing 11.

When the filling yarn becomes depleted on the operat ing bobbin to theextent that replenishment is required, the feeler tip 13 when makingcontact with the bobbin (not shown) is caused to slip sideways asillustrated in FIG. 3 to the extent where the supporting stem 14contacts and actuates a transmitter rod 25 which initiates a fillingreplenishment action well known to those familiar with the art.

The casing cover 12 is made of any suitable material and preferably onewhich is transparent such, for example, as one of the various types ofplastics that are commercially available. It is assembled to casing 11by means of a bolt 26 the shank portion of which passes through anaperture in the cover and thence through an aligned aperture in thecasing. The threaded portion of bolt 26 extends through and beyondcasing 11 and is adapted to secure the complete unit to a loom mountingbracket 27 a portion of which is shown in FIG. 5.

In addition to bolt 26, casing cover 12 is provided with a positioningmeans which comprises a pin 28 that protrudes from casing 11 and isadapted to be received by an aligned aperture provided in said cover.

In operation the stabilizing effect produced by the counteractingexpansion springs tends to continually urge the supporting stem 14 to acentralized and fully extended position from the casing 11. To detectthe presence or absence of filling on the operating bobbin, the feelertip enters an opening provided in the loom shuttle on the forwardmovement of the lay when the shuttle is in a boxed position. Ifsufficient filling is present on the bobbin for continued weaving, thefeeler tip and its supporting stem will move a short distance in alongitudinal direction and then through retraction of springs 20 and 21it will move to its normal extended position as the lay commences tomove in a rearward direction. When the filling yarn becomes depleted tothe extent that replenishment is required, the feeler tip when makingcontact with the bobbin is caused to slip sideways to the extent wherethe supporting stem 14 contacts and actuates a transmitter rod 25 whichinitiates a filling replenishment action. As the lay commences to movein a rearward direction the feeler tip and stem return to their regularand extended position through retraction of spring 20. The unstablecondition normally created by the quick return of these members causingthe stem member to rock to and fro against the guide members until theforces with which it was caused to return to this position haddissipated, are now controlled and equalized through the counteractingexpansion springs. This novel feeler means provides a more stabilizedfeeler stem and balanced feeler unit with a minimum of frictionalcontact between the various components creating a favorable conditionwhereby the life expectancy of said components is increased to aconsiderable extent.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to beunderstood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number ofways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precisedetails described, but is intended to embrace all variations andmodifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler case, apivot member, a stern member having a first portion extending in adirection substantially perpendicular to the axis of the bobbin fromwhich it is adapted to derive an indication and a second portionextending from the forward end of said first portion and in a directionsubstantially perpendicular thereto, said pivot member being effectiveto limit rearward movement of said stem member and also being adapted toguide forward and rearward motion of said first portion of said stemmember, said stem member including a feeler tip aflixed to the rearwardend thereof, a pair of oppositely disposed resilient members forstabilizing said stem member in a centralized position within said caseand said resilient members further urging said feeler tip and stemmember to a fully extended position therefrom.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler case, apivot member, a stem member having a first portion extending in adirection substantially perpendicular to the axis of the bobbin fromwhich it is adapted to derive an indication and a second portionextending from the forward end of said first portion and in a directionsubstantially perpendicular thereto, said pivot member being effectiveto limit rearward movement of said stem member and also being adapted toguide forward and rearward motion of said first portion of said stemmember, said stem member including a feeler tip aifixed to the rearwardend thereof, a pair of oppositely disposed resilient members comprisingcounteracting expansion springs having one end of each attached atopposed points in said feeler case and the opposite ends being attachedat adjacent points on said stem member, said springs being adapted tostabilize said stem member in a centralized position within said caseand further adapted to urge said feeler tip and stem member to a fullyextended position therefrom.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler case, apivot member, a stem member having a first portion extending in adirection substantially perpendicular to the axis of the bobbin fromwhich it is adapted to derive an indication and a second portionextending from the forward end of said first portion and in a directionsubstantially perpendicular thereto, said pivot member being effectiveto limit rearward movement of said stem member and also being adapted toguide forward and rearward motion of said first portion of said stemmember, said stern member including a feeler tip afiixed to the rearwardend thereof, a pair of oppositely disposed resilient members comprisingcounteracting expansion springs having one end of each attached atopposed points in said feeler case and the opposite ends being attachedat adjacent points on said stem member, said stem member being providedwith a plurality of spring connecting points along the length thereoffor varying the spring tension imparted to said stem and for stabilizingthe same in a centralized position Within said case and further adaptedto urge said feeler tip and stem member to a fully extended positiontherefrom.

4. In a feeler mechanism for looms, a feeler case, a slidable andpivotal stem member extending from said case and a feeler tip afiixed tothe end thereof, said stem member having a first portion extending in adirection substantially perpendicular to the axis of the bobbin fromwhich it is adapted to derive an indication and a second portionextending from the forward end of said first portion and in a directionsubstantially perpendicular thereto, said feeler case including a pivotmember and a guide member generally aligned and centrally disposed forguiding the forward and rearward motion of said first portion of saidstem member, the combination of said second portion and said pivotmember being effective to limit rearward movement of said stem member, apair of oppositely disposed coil spring members for stabilizing andurging said stern member to a centralized and fully extended positionfrom said feeler case, said springs having one end of each attached toadjacent points on said stem member, the latter having a plurality ofsuch attaching points along the length of said first portion forselectively varying the spring tension imparted thereto, said springmembers being disposed as to extend obliquely in the direction of thefeeler tip from said first portion to opposed attachment points at thesides of said feeler case.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,817,164 Nelson Aug. 4, 1931 1,874,533 Hudson Aug. 30, 1932 2,156,900Barrett et a1. May 2, 1939 2,593,614 Sanderson Apr. 22, 1952 2,629,407Whitin Feb. 24, 1953

1. IN A FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS, THE COMBINATION OF A FEELER CASE, APIVOT MEMBER, A STEM MEMBER HAVING A FIRST PORTION EXTENDDING IN ADIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF THE BOBBIN FROMWHICH IT IS ADAPTED TO DERIVE AN INDICATION AND A SECOND PORTIONEXTENDING FROM THE FORWARD END OF SAID FIRST PORTION AND IN A DIRECTIONSUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR THERETO, SAID PIVOT MEMBER BEING EFFECTIVETO LIMIT REARWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID STEM MEMBER AND ALSO BEING ADAPTED TOGUIDE FORWARD AND REARWARD MOTION OF SAID FIRST PORTION OF SAID STEMMEMBER, SAID STEM MEMBER INCLUDING A FEELER TIP AFFIXED TO THE REARWARDEND THEREOF, A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY DISPOSED RESILIENT MEMBERS FORSTABILIZING SAID STEM MEMBER IN A CENTRALIZED POSITION WITHIN SAID CASEAND SAID